In one week, the number of cases of monkeypox reported in Quebec has more than doubled, rising to 52.
Posted at 5:14 p.m.
This is what the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) said in a tweet published at the end of the day, Wednesday.
The latest report from Quebec, dated May 25, then reported 25 confirmed cases of the disease in the province.
On Wednesday, Toronto Public Health said a second case of monkeypox was confirmed in the city, in a man in his 40s.
The first case of the disease in Toronto was confirmed on May 26. Six other cases are still under investigation in the Queen City. Nine cases that were under investigation have so far been declared negative.
In New Brunswick, the Minister of Health indicated for her part on Wednesday that a first suspected case of monkeypox had been discovered.
A hundred doses of vaccine in Quebec
Monkeypox is a rare disease that comes from the same family of viruses that causes smallpox, which the World Health Organization declared eradicated worldwide in 1980.
The symptoms reported consist mainly of skin lesions in the mouth and genitals. These signs may be preceded or accompanied by fever; night sweats; headaches; swollen glands and joint or muscle pain.
The disease resolves on its own in two to four weeks in the majority of cases. Very rare cases of serious complications may occur, however.
Last Thursday, Quebec said it had a hundred doses of vaccine, which would be enough to “eradicate” the disease from the province, according to the acting national director of public health, Dr.r Luc Boileau.
With The Canadian Press